The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-30
IRELAND'S WOES TOLD.
MESSRs. o'CoNNoR AND EsMoNDE
ENLIGHTEN A LARGE AUDIENCE.
They Tell, in Clear and Forcible Lam
guage, Of Her Treatment by England
and the Heroic Struggle Going on
to Prevent Further Thraldom.


Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde and
the Hon. Arthur OConnor, Irish members
of the British Parliament, and ardent sup
porteH of the Parnell policy for Irelands
release from English thraldom, have visited
Memphis, fulfilled their mission, and will
leave at 10 oclock this morning for Nash
vile. They spent yesterday, in company
with local committee of entertainment and
Il ,lelegation from Nashville, riding around
and viewing the city, forming acquaintance
aud taking on impressions that will abide
with them for years TO come.
A large and intelligent audience assembled
at tho Y. NJ. II. A. hall, corner of Second
and Union streets, 10 hear q recital of the
issues which now agitate Ireland, Great
Britain and the civilized world where the
English language IL spoken. The addresses
were given under the auspices of the local
branch of the Irish National league OF Amer
lea. Before the hour announced for the
| speaking the hall was filled to its utmost, by
not lrishmen alone, but numbers Of Amer
lean sympathizcrs were on hand TO lend en-
couragement and moral support. There
were also a number Of ladies present to give
grace and beauty to the assemblage.
On the stage were seventy-iiye chairs,
placed there for use by the leaders of the
local branch Of the league, vice presidents of
the meeting and other distinguished citizens.
All arrangements were excellently made by
Mcssrs. Morgan J. Kelly, John 3. Sullivan
and William Fitzgerald, who were also
prominent in the successful effort TO bring
the distinguished lrishmen to Memphis.
At S:l5 o'clock the advance guard of the
stage people appeared, led by Father Moran,
Brother Maurelian, Of the Christian Broth
ers college. Father J. +. Kensella, Sauls-
bury Wis, Father J. NJ Votzkers, Helena;
Father IL. J. IIaun, Aberdeen, Miss, and
Brother John, of the Christian Brothers col.
icge; Messs j. :. Mcnken, Judge ]. j.
| Dubois, Judge l.. ii. Estes, Judge j. s. Gal
loway Judge Il. NJ. Estes, j. NJ. Heating,
julie Taylor, NJ. Gavin, Elias Lowenstein, L.
VI. Winters, W. e. FOlkes, Col Josiah Pat
terson, IL. NJ. Nicely, VIM. Horgan, d. II.
Curberry, Jerry Sullivan, Gen. Luke II.
Wright J. s. Sullivan, Morgan j. Kelly, +.
J. Byrnc and the delegation Of leading Irish.
men from Nashville, whose names appear in
another column.
Among those In the audience were Thos.
III. Allen, j. 4. Petit, J. ID. Montcdonico, j.
Harvey Mathcs, John and Owen Lilly, Jas
Reilly, Nathan Picard, S. l.. Barinds, and
Others equally prominent
As soon as the chairs on the stage were
|
pirate speech, introduced Judge W. C.
Folkcs, OF the State supreme court. In
words Of burning oloquencc he eulogized
the gallant lrishmcn who had bnycd the
waters Of the ocean 10 tell face To face, the
needs aud woes OF the Emerald Isle Ia
Americans. lie bespoke both hearty and
substantial reception from the people OF
Memphis.
THE hon. ARTHUR o'CoSNoR
was the first TO respond, and spoke in clear
slow and distinct voice. lie stated that after
the superiluous words Of praise OF himself
and laudation Of his labors as a parliamen.
tarian the audience would naturally expect
more than ho was able 10 give. lie was only
an humble person at hOme-onc Of the rank
and lille Of a host Of earnest workers for Ire
land. lie came 10 America 10 meet hi,
thousands OF co-workerS and encourage
them, as far as possible, in their task o
moral and financial support lie then read
newspaper clipping, giving the reasons foI
his abandonment Of series Of Lectures Ia
this country for the reason that the pro
longed and tedious journeys were too
much for him. This, he said, wa,
not his experience, though he found
IL great and, in fact, n wonder
ful country. lie was amazed at its extent
resources and ultimate possibilities; he wa
amazed at the hospitality and generosity o
|
at the
GLORIOUS GOVERNMENT
which existed by suffrage OF the common
people. Freedom and protection 90 all alik,
were It's intent and purpose, and M far ~ h,
had seen these were fully accomplished. In
America IL was n government of the people
while In Ireland II wasa privileged class who
ruled. This had resulted In rctrogrcssion, q
wasting away OF the Irish people. When
/ IA 80 NsI Nh.s L..
there were Ia Ireland 5000, 600 OF people, and
in England 100000. At this time the
number In England has increased 30 1900
OOJ. by the same process the Irish rae,
should have increased "a 10 100000, but thi,
was not the case; not the original 5000,
OJO remained.
lie then outlined the methods OF poycrn
mcnt here aud In Ireland. and contrastcd IN,
two. In Ireland the people could not raiss
their voice in the appointment Of even po
liccman. While there were only about
thirty policemen In Memphis, IN ireland
they had body Of some 1900. They wcr,
not policemen In the American sense, but
gentlemen who took thing. their own way
and would not stOop tO catch common
thief. Their duty WIS 10 parade In public
watch the trains nj every station in tn,
island, aud keep an eye on political move
menis and the higher grades Of crime. Bu
this police force WIS not enough. and mill
tary force, far In excess Of the United State
army, was kept constantly In the country
nnd ON parade.
The right ~ public meetings was denied
and with such rigid penalties that were
I meeting such ~ the one here tonight 10 b'
held every Que In attendance would he liabll
for six months imprisonment and fine. We
~ ridiculous and illogical Is the Law tina
when the meeting N held on one side OF IA,
, line they break no law; but when they NEE
iifty yards away, with the same speaker
, aud same wurl-, they violate the law. Not
only was the liberty of public meeting pro
hibitcd, but liberty ~ the press was un
known. Several editors who dared expires
opinions aud make correct reports Of meet
? ings In Ireland were now undergoing punish
p ment, among them Oliricn. Applause.
b Were the latter patriot 10 serve out the ful
terms for this class Of oiicnscs aud hh
speeches IN the halls oi Parliament III
would not emerge from prison In less thar
. go or 900 years. This fact would moi
, cause him 20 relax his efforts IN the least
: riourINo IuE LANDLORDS.
, lie hid consulted with some friends a. I,
the hest methods ~ lighting the landlord.
and the provision uf tho coercion act was In
: vokcd against him. The right Of combina
ton wm made an oncnsc. Provision wa
made against the plan OF campaign, but u
would he Pcrscyorcd IN despite al their pro
visions In one estate alone. In Queen
county. his own constituency had built forty
I houses ON Iorl Lansdownos land. fa
moro serious he thought was the defense o
those being Prosecuted under the coercion
act II was true that they could hnd hun
drrds 10 fight the net, but u was also tru'
that they should pay for their good defense
/ They had, besides, tho printing aud othe
{ funds connected with tho parliamentar,
4 a..